Top Things to Do in Nha Trang, A Southern Coastal Oasis

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Spanning Vietnam’s South Central Coast, and forming part of the Khánh Hòa Province, Nha Trang is an epic beachside alternative to major Southern cities such as Saigon (which is just under six hours away). The beach is always in sight, being outdoors most of the time is part and parcel of everyday life, and there’s also a lot of natural beauties around, from waterfalls to national parks.

Perhaps one of the biggest draws to Nha Trang is that this destination is famed as the best place for scuba diving in all of Vietnam. Not to mention it’s surrounded by nearly twenty (stunning) islands, and truly feels vastly different from the other coastal parts of the country.

If you’re planning on hanging ten in this cool coastal city, the things to do in Nha Trang go beyond just all-day beaching. Curious to know more? Let’s dive in!

P.S. Just three hours from Nha Trang is magical Dalat filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful things to do. It’s doable as a day trip, or add this destination to the next part of your Vietnam agenda.

1. Sailing Club Nha Trang: Beach club come day party venue come nightfall

Is it really a beach hotspot if there’s no banging beach bar around? Sailing Club Nha Trang is the city’s hottest beach club, open super early (7 am) and closing super late (around 2 am) when the stars are dancing along with the party. 

If you’re no longer the party animal you once were, this is the perfect beachfront locale to kickstart your day: with brekkie on the beach. The scattered rainbow-colored bean bags remind one of Bali’s famous beach clubs, but there are also sun loungers and a separate ‘Garden View’ area with gorgeous cabanas if you’re not keen on the whole sandy business. 

Apart from breakfast hour, there are multiple food and drinks menus to serve you throughout the day, and expert mixologists shake up impressive cocktails. 

Check the club’s socials to scope out the latest party/event. 

2. Ninh Thuan Vineyards: Go wine-tasting!

If you go down to Ninh Thuan today, you’re in for a big surprise of… wine tasting! That’s right; who would have thought that there were vineyards in Vietnam?! 

Honestly, I lived there for six years and local wines were never popular, so I was even surprised to stumble across this day-trip gem. While it takes just under two hours to reach, when I think about all of the wine-tasting hotspots I’ve visited, for example, in Tuscany or Cape Town, you always have to journey out to reach them, anyway! 

Although I must warn you: these vineyard experiences are still small-scale (it’s not quite Stellenbosch in South Africa). Meander through the vineyards, enjoy an educational tour, try grape varieties and products other than wine (like jam), sample a glass or two, and you can purchase bottles of local wine, too. 

Popular vineyards are: Ba Moi Vineyard, Sang Tín Vineyard, and Thai An Vineyard. 

3. Beach hopping: Water sports, lazy days and seafood galore  

One of the biggest draws for travelers to Nha Trang is its coastline. This Vietnamese destination is famed as a beach town, and so naturally, beach hopping is high on the agenda of things to do in Nha Trang! 

There are plenty of beaches around town, as well as some options beyond the city. And, of course, a world of water sporting awaits you. These include SUPing, jet skiing, parasailing, paragliding, windsurfing, flyboarding, kayaking, boat trips, and sailing. 

Must-visit beaches include: 

• Tran Phu: The city’s main beach. Along its promenade are the insta-famous lotus-shaped Thap Tram Huong tower, the Stone Church, and, at the very end, access to Hon Mun Island.
• Bai Dai Beach: 40 minutes from Nha Trang, the sands are soft, the waters calm, and hardly any tourists around.  
• Nhu Tien Beach: 30 minutes from Nha Trang, there are seats to rent, and some seafood restaurants.
• Doc Let Beach: An hour from Nha Trang, it’s a popular spot among both locals and tourists.

If you’re heading to Danang anytime soon after Nha Trang, don’t miss these amazing beaches in Danang!

4. Snorkeling and scuba diving: The best in Vietnam 

If you’re an avid diver, you’ve probably read that Nha Trang is the best place for scuba diving in Vietnam. It’s one of the reasons why people visit Nha Trang; solely for the diving. 

With its South Central coastal positioning, the reefs are considered the country’s best, and for about six months a year, the waters remain relatively calm creating excellent water visibility. 

Local tip: Nha Trang’s monsoon season is typically from September to December when the city experiences the most rain.

Therefore, the best time of year for diving and snorkeling is between January and August. Discover close to 20 dive sites around Nha Trang. 

Some of the best and most popular include Hon Ong, i.e., Whale Island, Hon Mun Marine Protected Area, Rainbow Reef, Turtle Island, Moray Beach dive site, and Tiger Wall dive site. 

5. Go island hopping: 19 islands to discover 

Fun fact: Nha Trang is home to 19 islands. I suggest that you dedicate at least one full day to island-hopping around, or you can always just pick one to spend the day. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Nha Trang without a doubt. 

Most are easy enough to reach via local boat trips or tours, and there are themed options, too, such as party boat tours or private sails with lunch onboard. 

Some of Nha Trang’s top islands to visit are: 

• Hon Mun Island is awesome for snorkeling and easily accessible from Nha Trang city 
• Diep Son Island is one of the most well-known of Nha Trang’s islands — technically it comprises three small islets: Hon Bip, Hon Giua, and Hon Duoc.
• Monkey Island is filled with, well, monkeys. But besides this, there are outdoor sports, seafood restaurants, and other touristy things to do on the isle.
• Bin Lap Island is gorgeous, from the fine white sands to the transparent waters. 
• Hon Tam Island is a popular wedding destination. It’s easy to reach via a short 25-minute ferry and there’s loads to do here. 

After a long day out at sea, get a caffeine kick at these top cafes in Nha Trang!

6. See the salt pans: A fascinating day trip 

Whenever exploring any new place in the world, I always love (well, try my best) to go see something unusual to me, but which is very typical of that area. The salt pans in the Hon Khoi peninsula are one such example. 

There are a few salt pans around Vietnam, but there’s a large production that goes on here, and it’s actually really fascinating seeing how salt is manufactured. (I am a salt fiend; whenever I’m dining at someone’s house, I tell them to take no offense to my salt seasoning overload even before I’ve tasted a meal.)

So this kind of thing really interests me. Plus, if you’re a photographer, the scenes and landscapes (especially around sunrise when the workers start their daily business) are stunning. The contrast of the white salt pans is something else! 

7. Spiritual Sightseeing: Long Son Pagoda, Suoi Do Pagoda, Stone Church

I’m a sucker for temples, and it’s one thing I never miss out on. 

The Buddhist Long Sơn Pagoda (founded in 1886) is super striking and behind the temple is one of the country’s largest Buddhas, the 24-meter-tall ‘White Buddha.’ Boasting typical Vietnamese temple architecture, other standout features are the marble sleeping Buddha and the temple’s Dai Hung Chung Bell. The views from here are exquisite. 

Another Buddhist sanctuary, Suoi Do Pagoda is only 30 minutes from the city. Nestled beneath trees and other rich fauna, you feel worlds away here. The temple is dedicated to the Chinese goddess of compassion, Quan Am, and many visitors arrive here to pray to the deity. The vistas from the top of the 200-step-ascent are also stunning.  

And lastly, while speaking of spiritual landmarks, the Nha Trang Cathedral smack bang in the middle of town is an impressive piece of architecture, especially inside the stone church — just until you get a glimpse at those ceilings. It was constructed in a French-Gothic style circa 1928. 

8. Mud baths: Rejuvenating and relaxing 

Forget fancy spas or even thermal baths. Whilst you’re here, one of the coolest things to do in Nha Trang is a traditional mud bath. 

Some health benefits of mud bathing it up are relieving aches and pains, promoting better sleep, detoxing, and getting rid of dead skin cells — and that’s just the tip of the muddy iceberg. 

In fact, numerous mud baths can be found around Nha Trang. Popular spots for mud baths and other spa services are I-Resort, Tram Trung, and Thap Ba. 

9. Po Nagar Cham Towers: Travel back in time  

When I visited Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed My Son Sanctuary, I remember thinking the same thing: 

This totally reminds me of Angkor Wat. 

After some research, it turns out that the architecture of Cambodia’s Khmer people is equivalent to Vietnam’s Champa tribes. Hence, the similarity in styles. 

These four Cham towers, known as Po Nagar (also spelled Ponagar) were erected between the 7th and 12th centuries and remain one of the unmissable things to do in Nha Trang. Plus, it’s just outside of the city center, in Cu Lao Hill. Officially one of the country’s national monuments, walk around and snap dozens of photos, or sit in silence and contemplate the essence of life. 

10. Waterfalls: Ba Ho Waterfall & Yang Bay 

If you came to just lounge about in Nha Trang — which you can totally do all day long down at the beaches — you’d be missing out on all the cool outdoor activities that the surrounding area has to offer. Case in point, hunting down the waterfalls. 

Not just one but three cascades, the Ba Ho eco-tourism area in Van Thuan Village is amazing for cooling off among these three pools that flow from its source. You can choose to trek to the various waterfall levels, each one differing in difficulty. Plus, you can also spend the night at the local accommodation here (which is surrounded by sunflowers when in bloom). 

Yang Bay Waterfall is further away and is a crazy 80-meters-tall. You can swim in the bottom pool, and walk up the dedicated trails to other parts of the fall. Also around Yang Bay is an ostrich-feeding activity and local dance and instrument performances. 

11. Vinpearl Harbour: Cable cars, rides and traditional shows 

Sea-crossings via a cable car, a market, the country’s ‘first-ever, and largest Korean-standard Jimjibang healthcare complex’ (Aquafield), craft beer pistols, coffee shops, restaurants, and a shopping complex. Arrive at a sort of magical wonderland at Vinpearl Harbour. 

There’s even a recreated European-esque section with rows of colorful buildings made to mimic a mini Monaco, traditional shows, fireworks displays, and street performances. Don’t miss the 8Wonder music fest, Cabaret show, daily Stunt Show, or the Masquerade Ball. 

This entertainment complex is located on Hon Tre Island. 

Looking for places to wine and dine around Nha Trang? Here are 10 Best Restaurants in Nha Trang!

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